1995 525i code 1222 fixed?

[lloesch]

Hi all,

I'm posting this since I've seen a lot of boards where a 1222 code keeps showing up and the source can't be found. Maybe I can save someone else a ton of time, hassles and money. I *think* I've found the problem in my car. This is a 1995 525i (build date 11/94) with an M50TU engine.

Here's my orginal post:

1995 525i code 1222

We had 100+ temps this weekend so it was very easy to get it to fail. I was poking around under the hood and disconnected the line that goes from the charcoal canister to the purge valve (I was looking for vacuum leaks) and the problem went away. I blocked the line and drove the car in the heat. NO problems. Zippo. Reconnect the line, car throws 1222, stalls, barely runs, etc.

Turns out that the purge valve is stuck open and it looks like the charcoal canister may also be bad. What seems to be happening is that fuel vapor is blowing back through the line and causing the car to run rich in hot weather (especially at idle). It also blow vapor back into the manifold when the car is sitting and causes the flooding with hot start problems I've been having.

I'm going to order a new valve and charcoal canister this week. I'll post a followup on this thread after all the parts are installed.

If you seem to be having this problem the easy check is to disconnect the line going from the charcoal canister to the purge valve and plug it. On my car the canister is in the very left front of the engine bay.

In my case this means a strong gas smell from the canister while driving. I ran a hose out the canister to the underside of the car so I didn't have to smell the gas at lights.

Also, I believe the purge valve is supposed to hold a vacuum when there is no power applied, I disconnected mine and it was still open. My understanding is that this means a bad valve.

Sorry for the long post, but if this saves one person six months of frustration it's worth it!

Larry Loesch

[lloesch]

New parts are in and installed. Seems to have fixed all the problems. Also seems to have fixed the problem I was having with hesitation when the engine was cold.

One correction, the valve is closed with power applied. When there is no power applied it seems to act as a one way valve.

- LL